Bathing apparatus for thermotherapy

ABSTRACT

A bathing apparatus for thermotherapy includes a bathtub provided with sensors for measuring a water temperature in the bathtub and for measuring the body temperature of a bather. A water supply/heating device adjusts the temperature of water by heating the water in a boiler based on the difference in temperatures measured by the sensors and circulates the water through a circulating passage leading to the bathtub. An oxidation-reduction potential reducing unit is provided in the circulating passage. It includes a container through which water in the circulating passage passes, and vitreous inorganic particles stored in the container for reducing the oxidation-reduction potential of water in the circulating passage when brought into contact with the water in the circulating passage. With this arrangement, because the oxidation-reduction potential of the water in the bathtub is reduced by the oxidation-reduction potential reducing unit, it is possible to reduce the water temperature felt by the bather by at least 1 to 2° C. if the actual water temperature is e.g. 43° C. The patient can thus be subjected to thermotherapy for a long period of time with reduced heat stress.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bathing apparatus for thermotherapy in which the body of a bather is warmed with water heated to a predetermined temperature.

Because it has been experimentally confirmed that viruses and cancer cells are less resistant to heat than ordinary healthy cells, it is well-known that thermotherapy, in which the body of a patient is warmed in water heated to a predetermined temperature, is effective in suppressing growth of viruses and cancer cells in the body of the patient.

It is considered that viruses and cancer cells are less resistant to heat for the following reasons.

Human cells survive even when the body temperature rises up to 42° C. because at such an elevated temperature, homeostasis in the human body serves to expand blood vessels surrounding cells, thus lowering the body temperature. However, if the body temperature rises to 42.5° C. or over, enzymes in body cells ceases to function, thus resulting in breakdown of homeostasis. This causes degeneration, coagulation and ultimately death of cells.

On the other hand, such homeostasis does not act on cancer cells, so that at a high temperature of e.g. 41 to 42° C. or over, blood vessels in cancer cells shrink, making it difficult to dissipate heat from cancer cells. This is presumably the reason why cancer cells are less resistant to heat.

In thermotherapy, by increasing the body temperature to 42° C. and keep this temperature for a predetermined period of time, it is considered to be possible to damage only cancer cells without damaging normal cells. In an actually used thermotherapy called “Aquathermia” (registered trademark), the body temperature is raised to a predetermined level and kept at this level for a predetermined period of time by controlling the calorie of a heating medium such as hot water.

It is known that when protein forming human cells begins to degenerate due to such thermotherapy, a protein called heat shock protein 70 (abbreviated to HSP 70) is secreted. This protein serves to repair any damage to cells due to heat and stress.

In such thermotherapy, water that is higher in temperature than an ordinary bathing temperature is used to raise the body temperature of a patient to a required level, so that the patient often feels stress due to heat. This makes if difficult for the patient to bathe for a sufficiently long period of time in order for the thermotherapy to take effect.

Such heat stress is a phenomenon felt by the brain as stress when heat is applied to skin. In order to minimize the heat stress level felt by the brain, it is known to color the bathing water blue or any other color, or illuminate the eyes of the bather with colored light. It is also known to reduce the brain stress level by listening to music while bathing or stimulating “Keiketsu” or “Tsubo” with needles, moxa cautery, low frequency or laser beams, cooling the head, or using ions or magnetic fields from two or more gem stones or metals as disclosed in JP patent republication WO2003/057098.

But in such conventional thermotherapy, the brain stress level cannot be reduced sufficiently, so that the brain tends to feel stimuli when heat is applied to skin. Skin sometimes suffers from inflammation. Thus, in conventional bathing apparatus for thermotherapy, it was difficult to sufficiently suppress sensitivity to heat of patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a bathing apparatus for thermotherapy which allows a patient to bathe in water kept at a high temperature, typically exceeding 42° C., with minimum heat stimuli to the skin, thereby reducing the temperature of water felt by the patient, whereby the patient can bathe as comfortably as possible.

According to the present invention, there is provided a bathing apparatus for thermotherapy comprising a bathtub, sensors for measuring a water temperature in the bathtub and for measuring a body temperature of a bather, a water supply/heating device for adjusting the temperature of water based on the difference in temperatures measured by the sensors and circulating the water through a circulating passage leading to the bathtub, and an oxidation-reduction potential reducing unit provided in the circulating passage and comprising a container through which water in the circulating passage passes, and vitreous inorganic particles stored in the container for reducing an oxidation-reduction potential of water in the circulating passage when brought into contact with the water in the circulating passage.

In this arrangement, the oxidation-reduction potential reducing unit provided in the circulating passage reduces the oxidation-reduction potential of water to be fed into the bathtub. Thus, if the actual water temperature is 43° C., the temperature felt by the patient is 1 to 2° C. lower than the actual water temperature. Thus, heat stimuli applied to skin also decreases, so that the patient can bathe in water which is higher in temperature than ordinary bathing temperature, which is typically 39 to 41° C., e.g. in water kept at 42 to 43° C. for a relatively long period of time.

It is required that the sensor for measuring the body temperature of the patient be capable of measuring the body temperature as accurately as possible. The temperature of water in the bathtub is measured by another sensor. Based on the temperatures measured by these sensors, the water supply/heating device is controlled to supply water heated to such a temperature that the body temperature of the patient is heated to a required level.

The vitreous inorganic particles are formed by bringing a vitreous material into contact with activated mineral water pressurized to a predetermined pressure of 2 to 30 atm, the activated mineral water being produced by repeatedly bringing water pressurized to 5 to 30 atm into contact with at least one inorganic mineral selected from basalt, andesite and magnetite, and storing the pressurized water in an atmosphere kept at a pressure less than the predetermined pressure.

When the water in the circulating passage is brought into contact with the vitreous inorganic particles in the oxidation-reduction potential reducing unit, which have been brought into contact and treated with activated mineral water pressurized to 2 to 30 atm, the oxidation-reduction potential of the water is reduced.

Preferably, the bathing apparatus includes a blue lighting equipment for illuminating the interior of the bathtub to further reduce the brain stress level.

Preferably, the blue lighting equipment comprises a translucent hollow case which is brought into contact and treated with the abovementioned activated mineral water, and a light emitting element sealed in the case and configured to emit light under electric energy.

The sensor for measuring the body temperature of the bather is preferably a sensor for measuring a rectum temperature so as to measure a temperature as close to the core body temperature as possible.

Because the bathing apparatus according to the present invention includes the oxidation-reduction potential reducing unit, and the water supply/heating device supplies water heated according to the difference between the temperature of the water in the bathtub and the body temperature of a bather as measured by the sensors, even if the water in the bathtub is increased to a temperature exceeding 42° C., it is possible to minimize stimuli to the skin of the bather, thus reducing the water temperature felt by the bather, which allows the bather to be subjected to thermotherapy more comfortably.

By employing the manufacturing method according to the present invention in producing the vitreous inorganic particles, it is possible to more reliably reduce the oxidation-reduction potential of water.

By providing the blue lighting equipment, it is possible to sufficiently reduce the brain stress level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the bathing apparatus for thermotherapy embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of an oxidation-reduction potential reducing unit of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bathing apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now referring to the attached figures, the embodiment of the present invention is described.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the bathing apparatus for thermotherapy of the embodiment comprises a bathtub 4 and a water supply/heating device. The bathtub 4 has a sensor 5 for measuring the water temperature and a sensor 6 for measuring the body temperature of a bather. Hot water in the bathtub 4 is circulated through a hot water circulating passage. The water supply/heating device includes a boiler 8 and a gas or electric heater 9. Based on the difference between the temperatures measured by the sensors 5 and 6, water heated by the boiler 8 and cold water are supplied into a water tank in a predetermined proportion. Water thus mixed in the water tank is supplied to the bathtub 4 through the hot water circulating passage. The heater 9 is provided in the hot water circulating passage, keeping the temperature of the water being circulated through the hot water circulating passage. Further, an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) reducing unit 3 is provided in the hot water circulating passage to keep the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of circulated water at a low level.

As shown in FIG. 2, the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) reducing unit 3 includes a columnar pressure-resistant container 1. Inside the container 1, a pair of water permeable honeycomb or mesh partitions (not shown) are provided at its ends. The space between the permeable partitions is filled with a large number of vitreous inorganic particles 2 or ceramic globules (having a diameter of e.g. 5 to 30 mm, preferably 10 to 20 mm).

The vitreous inorganic particles 2 are obtained by preparing activated mineral water by repeatedly bringing water pressurized to 5 to 30 atm into contact with an inorganic mineral selected from basalt, andesite and magnetite, and aerating the water at a pressure lower than the pressure when brought into contact with the inorganic mineral, mixing the thus prepared activated mineral water into a vitreous ceramic material, and melting and forming the solid content of the thus obtained mixture.

The method for producing such activated mineral water is disclosed in Japanese patent publication 4-74074B, which was filed by the applicant of this invention.

Basalt, andesite and magnetite, with which water is brought into contact in producing the activated mineral water, contain primarily SiO₂, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, FeO, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na₂O and K₂O.

As mentioned above, water to be brought into contact with the inorganic mineral in producing the activated mineral water is preferably pressurized to 5 to 30 atm. If the water is pressurized to less than 5 atm, it is impossible to efficiently produce the activated mineral water. Even if the water is pressurized to over 30 atm, the properties of the activated mineral water scarcely improve any further. It is therefore a waste of energy and unpractical to pressurize the water to over 30 atm.

By repeatedly pressurizing water when brought into contact with the inorganic mineral and depressurizing it to the atmospheric pressure for aeration, it is presumably possible to obtain intended properties of the activated mineral water.

That is, the activated mineral water thus obtained has various improved properties at the molecular level, including reduced size of the clusters of water molecules (which means that the water molecules are practically not bound together). Also, the activated mineral water contains inorganic ions such as divalent or trivalent ions (e.g. iron ions) that elute from the inorganic mineral when pressurized water is passed therethrough. Moreover, the activated mineral water can infiltrate into various substances and has a lower ORP than ordinary water, such as tap water.

The activated mineral water thus prepared is brought into contact with a vitreous material by mixing the former into the latter or immersing the latter in the former. Then, they are separated from each other by e.g. filtering. Otherwise, the activated mineral water is brought into contact with the vitreous inorganic particles under the pressure of 2 to 30 atm. The vitreous material now contains part of the activated mineral water and thus inorganic ions derived from the inorganic mineral. The vitreous material therefore has physicochemical properties of the activated mineral water.

Glass is a material that is similar in the sequence of molecules and ions, has no regularity like crystals and shows no fluidity due to high viscosity, so that it has solid-like properties.

When adding the activated mineral water to the vitreous material, it is important to efficiently bring the former into the latter because the former vaporizes soon thereafter. Thus, the activated mineral water is preferably added by at least 5% by weight so that the vitreous particles obtained have intended properties due to the contact between the activated mineral water and the vitreous material.

The vitreous material is a solid inorganic material which is amorphous at normal temperature. The vitreous particles used in the present invention may contain as major components such known materials as SiO₂, B₂O₃, Al₂O₃, CaO, MgO, PbO, Na₂O and K₂O. Such vitreous particles may be quartz glass, soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, non-alkali glass, etc.

Such vitreous material is formed into vitreous particles such as globules. To such particles, known columnar, prismatic, flaky, oval or ring-shaped pellets or particles may be mixed to such an extent as not to unduly increase the flow resistance of water.

When the vitreous material is formed into globules and other particles, their surfaces become dense and smooth glassy surfaces. Alternatively, such particles may be ceramic, iron or other metallic particles having a surface coating of glass formed by applying and hardening molten glass.

If the activated mineral water is brought into contact with the vitreous inorganic particles under pressure, the pressure is preferably within the range of 2 to 30 atm in order that the physicochemical properties of the activated mineral water may be sufficiently transferred to the vitreous material. If this pressure is less than 2 atm, the activated mineral water has to be brought into contact with the vitreous inorganic particles for an impractically long time. If higher than 30 atm, the efficiency of this treatment will not improve any further.

The vitreous inorganic particles thus obtained contain predetermined mineral inorganic ions. When they contact water, ions such as Fe²⁺ or Fe³⁺ are dissolved into water, thus presumably decomposing clusters of water molecules. Also, it is presumed that small aggregates of water molecules form around the dissolved ions. This presumably causes some physicochemical reactions such as cutting of hydrogen bonds, thereby increasing the amount of activated hydrogen and lowering the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the water with which the vitreous particles are brought into contact.

The water supply/heating device adjusts water temperature based on the difference in temperature measured by the sensor 5 for detecting the water temperature in the bathtub 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and the sensor 6 for detecting the body temperature of the bather and circulates the thus adjusted hot water through the bathing apparatus.

The water supply/heating device is connected to a water supply not shown. Water may be heated to a predetermined temperature (e.g. about 60° C.) in the boiler 8 and directly supplied to the bathing apparatus. But ordinarily, water heated in the boiler 8 is cooled to a predetermined temperature (e.g. about 46° C.) by being mixed with water kept at a temperature approximately equal to or lower than the ambient temperature in the water tank, and then the thus cooled water is supplied through a valve B₁ (three-way valve), a pump 11 and the circulating passage 7, where the oxidation-reduction potential of the water is reduced when it passes through the ORP reducing unit (see FIG. 2). By operating a valve B₂, the water in the circulating passage 7 flows into a second water tank. From the second water tank, water is supplied through the water inlet 12 into the bathtub.

Water in the bathtub 4 flows through a water outlet 10 formed in the bottom of the bathtub 4 and returns into the circulating passage 7. Then, water flows through the ORP reducing unit 3, valve B₂, heater 9 and the sensor 5, which measures the water temperature. Water then passes through a filter filled with fibrous filtering material or activated charcoal, and flows into the bathtub 4 through the water inlet 12. The sensor 5 may be provided downstream of the filter or in the bathtub. A germicide feeder (not shown) may be provided too.

The body temperature sensor 6 is a rod-shaped sensor to be inserted into the anus of the bather to measure the rectum temperature. Information from this sensor as well as other vital information obtained from pulse, breathing rate and body temperature sensors and other sensors (not shown) is shown on a vital information monitor (display) and also recorded on a recording device for the safety and comfort of the patient.

According to the difference between the temperatures measured by the sensors 5 and 6, the heater 9 and the boiler 8 are automatically or manually adjusted to supply warm water of which the temperature has been adjusted from the water supply/heating device. The warm water is then circulated through the circulating passage 7 to reduce its oxidation-reduction potential and for filtering.

Because the temperature of water in the bathtub 4 is ordinarily slightly (e.g. about 4° C.) lower than the temperature of water in the second water tank, the water temperature is adjusted taking into consideration this difference.

A blue lighting equipment 13 such as an LED is provided in the bathtub 4 to illuminate the water in the bathtub. The blue lighting equipment 13 comprises a translucent hollow case which is brought into contact and treated with the abovementioned activated mineral water, and an electroluminescent element such as a light emitting diode chip sealed in the case. The blue light emitting diode may be made of a known semiconductor material such as INGAN or ZnCdSe.

The translucent hollow case may be made of a ceramic material which is heat-resistant and can be used for light bulbs, such as a ceramic material, or a durable and sufficiently transparent synthetic resin. It may also be made of not a transparent but a colored material.

The blue lighting equipment 13 is not limited to the type of which the light emitting element is a light emitting diode but may be an incandescent lamp of which the light emitting element is a filament or a fluorescent lamp.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bathing apparatus for thermotherapy includes a waterproof door 15 which serves as a portion of the side wall of the bathtub and can be opened by operating a lever 14. With the door 15 open, a chair-ridden patient can be brought into the bathtub for thermotherapy (Aquathermia (registered trademark)).

The bathing apparatus further includes a control panel 16 and a housing 17 protecting the water supply/heating device.

When a patient with a tumor is bathed in warm water kept to 42.5 to 43° C. in the bathtub of the bathing apparatus for thermotherapy, because bloodstream is limited in the tumor, heat dissipation is limited in the tumor when heated, so that the survival rate of the tumor cells is considered to be lower than that of normal cells.

Also, because bloodstream is limited in the tumor, the tumor cells become highly acidic, which increases thermosensitivity of the tumor cells, thus triggering the production of heat shock protein (Hsp). This in turn causes the tumor cells to be antigen-presented as non-self, promoting effective attack on the tumor cells by immunocytes, which have been activated due to an increase in the body temperature of the patient. In this regard too, the survival rate of the tumor cells significantly falls at a temperature of not less than 42.5° C. The higher the water temperature and the longer the time of thermotherapy, the lower the survival rate of the tumor cells.

Because the oxidation-reduction potential of the water in the bathtub is reduced by the oxidation-reduction potential reducing unit, high-temperature water of 43° C. is felt by the patient to be 1 to 2° C. lower than the actual water temperature. Thus, it is possible for the patient to bathe for thermotherapy for a long period of time without heat stress.

The oxidation-reduction potential of tap water was 500 to 550 mV (acidic), while the ORP of water in the bathtub of the bathing apparatus according to the present invention, which has passed the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) reducing unit, was 190 mV, which is extremely close to the potential on the surface of a human body, which is −5- to 100 mV and was alkaline.

Under the above-described bathing conditions, heat stimuli to the skin are sufficiently low, so that patients do not feel so hot and can bathe for 30 to 40 minutes or longer in water kept at a temperature necessary to keep the rectum temperature at 39 to 40° C. (controlled within the range of ±0.1° C.), i.e. the temperature of 42 to 43° C., which is usually considered to be difficult to bathe for a long time because of heat stress. This became apparent from questionnaire among a plurality of users. The apparatus according to the present invention is therefore extremely useful for thermotherapy. 

1. A bathing apparatus for thermotherapy comprising a bathtub, sensors for measuring a water temperature in said bathtub and for measuring a body temperature of a bather, a water supply/heating device for adjusting the temperature of water based on the difference in temperatures measured by said sensors and circulating the water through a circulating passage leading to said bathtub, and an oxidation-reduction potential reducing unit provided in said circulating passage and comprising a container through which water in said circulating passage passes, and vitreous inorganic particles stored in said container for reducing an oxidation-reduction potential of water in said circulating passage when brought into contact with the water in said circulating passage.
 2. The bathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vitreous inorganic particles are formed by bringing a vitreous material into contact with activated mineral water pressurized to a predetermined pressure of 2 to 30 atm, said activated mineral water being produced by repeatedly bringing water pressurized to 5 to 30 atm into contact with at least one inorganic mineral selected from basalt, andesite and magnetite, and storing the pressurized water in an atmosphere kept at a pressure less than said predetermined pressure.
 3. The bathing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a blue lighting equipment for illuminating the interior of said bathtub.
 4. The bathing apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a blue lighting equipment for illuminating the interior of said bathtub.
 5. The bathing apparatus of claim 4 wherein said blue lighting equipment comprises a translucent hollow case which is brought into contact and treated with said activated mineral water, and a light emitting element sealed in said case and configured to emit light under electric energy.
 6. The bathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensor for measuring the body temperature of the bather is a sensor for measuring a rectum temperature.
 7. A method of producing vitreous inorganic particles for use in an oxidation-reduction potential reducing unit in a bathing apparatus for thermotherapy, said method comprising producing activated mineral water by repeatedly bringing water pressurized to a predetermined value of 5 to 30 atm into contact with at least one inorganic mineral selected from basalt, andesite and magnetite and storing the pressurized water in an atmosphere kept at a pressure less than said predetermined value, and bringing a vitreous material into contact with the activated mineral water pressurized to 2 to 30 atm. 